Matthew 19:16 (KJV)

What does Matthew 19:16 mean?

Matthew 19:16 introduces a man who approaches Jesus for guidance about gaining eternal life. His question assumes that a good action might be the way to obtain it, and he asks Jesus to identify that action.

The KJV calls the man “one” here; Matthew later describes him as a young man with many possessions. He addresses Jesus as “Good Master,” treating him as a teacher who can answer a weighty question.

The Greek behind Matthew 19:16

• “Master” — διδάσκαλος (didaskalos): The word means “teacher.” The KJV’s “Master” identifies Jesus as someone the man approaches for instruction.
• “eternal” — αἰώνιος (aiōnios): The word carries the sense of lasting through an age or forever. Here it describes the kind of life the man hopes to have.
• “life” — ζωή (zōē): The word means life. Paired with “eternal,” it points beyond the man’s present lifetime to the enduring life he is asking about.

Why Matthew 19:16 matters

• The man’s wording places the focus on an action: “what good thing shall I do?” That makes his question the starting point for the conversation that follows, rather than a statement of Jesus’ full answer.
• The man’s address also becomes part of the discussion. In verse 17, Jesus responds to the man’s use of “good” before addressing his question about life.
• The later exchange gives the question a personal setting. When Jesus tells the young man to sell what he has and follow him, the man goes away sorrowful because he has many possessions (verses 21–22).